WVH Power Rankings: Preseason Edition

They’re back baby! The WVHooligan Power Rankings have returned for another season. I know some of you love the rankings while others find them worthless. Whatever your case may be we will continue to do them around here as long as time permits us to do so.

As we head into the new season I’ll admit I was pretty confident on the top six picks here but after that it was a total crap shoot deciding where teams should go until the final four or so. Really any club from about six or seven to 12 or 13 could be placed about anywhere and still not be right. We’ll sort that out though as the season goes on.

Just as always I try to be objective as much as I can be. Just because a team isn’t rated high early on doesn’t mean I have anything against them. It just means I don’t see them as good (or playing as good) as those above them. Feel free as always to leave your comments below on the rankings.

Team

Rank

Record (W-L-T)

Comments

1

0-0-0 0 pts.

While I don’t actually think they are the best team in the league (right now), I am a firm believer that when you win a title you’re top dog in the new season until someone knocks you off. Plus I know Jason Kreis won’t settle for anything less than this right now.

2

0-0-0 0 pts.

They’re season has already been underway with a decent performance in the CONCACAF Champions League. Too bad they (like every other MLS club) couldn’t get it done in Mexico. I still see big things for the Crew in 2010 as long as Guillermo Barros Schelotto leads the way. I still think they need another striker.

3

0-0-0 0 pts.

I really do like what Bruce Arena did with his roster this winter, got a little younger and a little deeper. Oh and that Clint Mathis pickup should prove to be a lot more than some think. They still have a few too many old guys in the midfield but I’m not totally worried about that yet.

4

0-0-0 0 pts.

Will there be a sophomore slump in 2010? Some think so, I am on the other side of the fence.

5

0-0-0 0 pts.

Can Carlos de los Cobos guide the Fire into a MLS Cup in 2010? Its possible but they will have to improve on a dismal home record in 2009 to get there.

6

0-0-0 0 pts.

The Dynamo lost a lot this winter but I still think they are as deep as ever with Geoff Cameron leading the way in the middle of the park.

7

0-0-0 0 pts.

Something about Dallas I like a lot this year. Maybe it was the hot finish in 2009 or maybe it is because I think Schellas Hyndman as really started to figure this league out. Or maybe it is because Michael Hitchcock is finally out of the picture.

8

0-0-0 0 pts.

They moved on with Preki as their manager but other than the grass at BMO Field there wasn’t much to get excited about in Toronto this winter. The thing is Preki won with less with Chivas, who’s to say he won’t win again in Toronto?

9

0-0-0 0 pts.

Chivas should be much better without Preki. But I do worry about where their offense will come from.

10

0-0-0 0 pts.

If Omar Cummings and Conor Casey can return to their amazing form of last summer before they went cold this could easily be a fun team to watch. That pickup of Jeff Larentowicz should improve this midfield by miles. Still their defense worries me a bit.

11

0-0-0 0 pts.

New England is a big question mark, I give them this high of a ranking soly on the basis that I am a big Steve Nicol believer. That and it is hard to go against any club that has Shalrie Joseph.

12

0-0-0 0 pts.

I’m still a bit puzzled on this club, will Curt Onalfo find success in D.C. or will it be more like how it fared in KC? I know I had them third in the east but I see a rough start to their season as some growing pains accure.

13

0-0-0 0 pts.

Loads of changes but I’ll wait for a little while to see if any of them pay off before I move them up.

14

0-0-0 0 pts.

Defensively they should be much better this year, same offensively too. But as deep as the west is they will need another 10 goal scorer to go with Ryan Johnson.

15

0-0-0 0 pts.

Red Bull Arena is a jewel, but will it really be enough to turn this train wreck around? Its possible based on their preseason but I’m not jumping on this bandwagon yet. Plus can we really rate a club high that has big issues in goal, Bouna Coundoul and Greg Sutton are not the answer folks. But hey Jon Busch is available now.

16

0-0-0 0 pts.

Peter Nowak has built his club up but will they be deep enough to get to the playoffs in their first year? I doubt it, they’re too young all around and I really worry about where the goals will come from.

You really think Columbus needs another striker? Renteria, Herrera, Lenhart, and Garey aren't enough? Not to mention the midfielders we have that can score, and Chad “Air” Marshall? Robbie Rogers might even get in on the act this year. The Crew has plenty of threats, all Guillermo has to do is distribute.

incredulous

did you see the tables last season, they already were below San Jose and Kansas City…

Believe me, I know where we finished last season. I thought the idea was that these rankings are based on where things stand now. If you've watched the Red Bulls at all this pre-season, I don't see how you can project them as a last place team in the East again, that's all.

I honestly don't put a lot of stock in preseason play. Look at last year for instance, NY looked pretty good in preseason then too but then bombed once the season started. But I've been wrong before, I'm willing to let this club prove me wrong this season.

You really think Columbus needs another striker? Renteria, Herrera, Lenhart, and Garey aren't enough? Not to mention the midfielders we have that can score, and Chad “Air” Marshall? Robbie Rogers might even get in on the act this year. The Crew has plenty of threats, all Guillermo has to do is distribute.

incredulous

did you see the tables last season, they already were below San Jose and Kansas City…

Believe me, I know where we finished last season. I thought the idea was that these rankings are based on where things stand now. If you've watched the Red Bulls at all this pre-season, I don't see how you can project them as a last place team in the East again, that's all.

I honestly don't put a lot of stock in preseason play. Look at last year for instance, NY looked pretty good in preseason then too but then bombed once the season started. But I've been wrong before, I'm willing to let this club prove me wrong this season.